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[Yosemite]

Cross country errors?

Hiking, backpacking, running, biking, climbing, rafting, and other human-powered activities in Yosemite National Park

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Cross country errors?

Postby balzaccom » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:35 am

Ok--new thread here, since I've been thinking about this:

What are the most common errors people make when they go cross country? Now that the season is staring...it's about time to think about this again.


I've got one to start the list: Way overestimate their speed--or potential speed. I find that with route finding and the rest, I am usually lucky to average one mile per hour cross country--easily less than half of my normal trail hiking speed.
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Postby bill-e-g » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:00 am

The next time you are hiking thru a forested area on the trail keep
your eyes out for just how many sawn logs there are.
For xcountry of course those logs are not going to be sawn so you
gotta go around them or over them.

Unless you really really plan your route, have already done the route,
get the route from someone else, or the route ends up being pretty
open IMO you'll end up:

-Taking alot more time
-Going in one direction... it petering out or you hiting something you
can't get around or down... and having to backtrack..
continually looking for the best way
-Underestimating the terrain
-Having to drop down ledges or up them (one of the biggest
reasons I never hike without sticks)
-Overestimating how far you can go
-Underestimating how hard it can be (esp. if you are carrying a pack)
-Looking at the topo and thinking it will be easy when in fact
there are ledges all over the place

All that being said.... sometimes things on the topo or what you
are looking at look just impossible... but ... truth be told...
we are pretty miniscule compared to where we are... and it
in reality doesn't take much to make it thru or around an area.
(which also means it can be easy to get stuck and have to backtrack)

I just love love love going xcountry... and as you do it more and
more you'll be able to zip along faster and faster...
If you go xcountry follow the "rules" and hike with someone else
and leave a planned route with someone back at home.
(I'm notorious for just telling the misses I'll be in this general area I think
and then when I get there saying... hmmm... I need to go check
THAT out...)
(try not to do that)
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Postby balzaccom » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:54 pm

Good stuff Bill.

I also think that I have spent too much time forging ahead on some of my trips, and not enough time scouting and thinking through the route.

I also have a tendency to follow water...when in fact it is often much easier to keep your distance, and follow an easy incline that the stream bed.
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Postby john » Fri May 01, 2009 11:18 am

I think water crossings could be the biggest hurdle when going xcountry. A lot of info can be gained from a good topo, cliffs etc., but water is a huge variable in Yosemite. I know I've be stopped many times by a "creek" that happens to be a raging torrent in the spring.

A great resource can be a trail crew. These people spend not only their working hours in the backcountry, but also their free time. Most of them have set foot on every place within miles of their camp. I meet some near Red Peak last year and they hooked us up with some great beta on some cross country routes.

Cross country travel brings a whole new level of enjoyment to the backcountry experience!
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Postby oakroscoe » Mon May 04, 2009 10:28 pm

Well, as usual Bill pretty much nailed it. Overestimating their abilities and underestimating the difficulty and time are the main issues. I'd also say that I have ran across many people who don't know how to read of topo or don't even have a good topo with them. A GPS unit is great (and believe me, I love mine) but they are no substitute for a good topo.
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Postby airrj » Fri May 22, 2009 2:37 pm

I know this is cheating, but get a copy of "Off the Wall, Death in Yosemite" There are some great examples in there.

http://www.chesslerbooks.com/eCart/view ... oduct=5548

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